Foreign Ministry Warns Nigerians To Leave Eastern Ukraine

The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised the 146 Nigerian students were still in eastern Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Lungansk to leave and head to safer regions.

Under-Secretary in charge of Economy and Consular in the ministry, Amb. Abdulaziz Dankano, revealed this in Abuja today and said that with everyday the situation is worse.

He said that before the crisis, the region had about 1000 students but after repeated warning by the ministry there is only 146, he said: “But we still have 146 students who have refused to vacate the territory and the situation in the region is not getting better because of the fierce fighting between the separatists and Ukrainian military".

He also confirmed that the Nigerian students kidnapped in eastern by terrorists on July 17 have all been freed.

The names of the nine students were, Femi Oredugba, Wasiu Rasaki, Oyinola Sheriff, Ahmed Salis and Semiu Mabadeje. Others are Chigozie Amaobi, Daniel Eitokpah, Callistus Ezike and Agihibenma Wayne.

He said: “We made informal contacts with the rebels through members of the Nigerian community familiar with that region.

“Since the Kiev government is not in control of the region, our diplomats were not physically present in the region because of security concerns,’’ he explained.

Crisis erupted in eastern Ukraine after rebels declared independence from the new government in Kiev. Russia, which annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region in March has been accused of arming the rebels and has been targeted by US and European Union for sanctions.

Last month, UN Human Rights Chief, Navi Pillay, had said that no fewer than 1,129 people had been killed and 3,442 others wounded in the violent conflicts in eastern Ukraine since mid-April.

Source: Legit.ng